Tonight, on this intensively focused, informative, investigative journalistic edition of Light ‘Em Up we focus our spotlight on a problem that is often described as an unfortunate, intractable, unavoidable and daily reality among the members of law enforcement in the criminal justice system.
We reveal the story behind the story on “Testi-lying”— when police lie.
Blue Lies Matter!
It’s unfortunate, but law enforcement officers lie.
One of the most notorious lies told by police took place just a few years ago, when the Minneapolis Police Department initially described George Floyd’s death as resulting from a “medical incident during police interaction”. Police departments all over the world have engaged in and been caught in illegal lying to bolster their conviction rate.
A Brooklyn, NY District Attorney has publicly named 7 blacklisted officers whom have been found to NOT be credible. Evidence suggests that police officers commit perjury or other forms of testimonial deception more often than the public and juries have realized.
The term “testilying” was coined by police officers in New York City. It usually refers to perjury committed by a police officer; however, it has also been used to describe other forms of in-court deception.
The lies of the police hurt people. Such lies have the potential to ruin a person’s life — by putting them in prison for a long, long time or by even taking their life.
Law enforcement officers are bound by an oath to protect all citizens equally. Doing so requires consistency, compassion and respect for the dignity of all people and the adherence to the principles of the U.S. Constitution.
An officer dishonors the badge by using excessive force, lying under oath, falsifying their paperwork. The investigator who lies about evidence loses credibility, risks false confessions and undermines the appearance of fairness in court. Trust is essential to police-community relations and public safety. The use of deceptive tactics can only serve to undermine these relationships, bringing us to the present-day reality where cops who were once revered are now held in contempt and treated with suspicion due to the damage that they themselves have done to their reputations and the profession as a whole.
The fact of the matter is that the reputation of the entire law enforcement profession is tarnished when one single solitary officer betrays their oath to protect and serve in accordance with the laws that govern our great nation, not extrajudicially.
In this explosive episode we dig deep and deliver on:
♦ The 4 Big Lies that police often tell.
♦ What the legal term “habeas corpus” means.
♦ What is a suppression hearing and the purpose it serves in the criminal justice process.
And as education is always a key component of Light ‘Em Up …
♦ We examine another Supreme Court landmark case, Frazier v Cupp 394 U.S. 731 (1969). In this case the court held that “On its own, police deception in interrogations did not automatically constitute misconduct.” This case pretty much gave law enforcement the green light to lie and use deception.
The truth is certainly under attack! The truth is well worth fighting for!
Truth is something to be leveraged; not concealed.
We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts with us on this episode and any of our episodes that you’ve listened to. Email us at: prizzo@rpgconsultingltd.com
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Thanks much!
Phil Rizzo
Executive Producer